Our election night poll in PA-18 found that health care was a defining issue in the race. 52% said it was either the most important issue or very important in their vote, and Conor Lamb won those voters 62-38: https://t.co/1D00GVRY5k

One particularly noteworthy health care poll finding in PA-18…voters there support the Affordable Care Act 44-42. That it’s now supported even in Trump +20 districts really speaks to how much things have shifted on that since GOP repeal efforts: https://t.co/1D00GVRY5k

Trump's personal unpopularity is a big part of it, & prob the biggest part. But it's more than that: it's also his inability/unwillingness to drive a focused positive message for GOP, or to campaign for candidates in a way that isn't just political joyriding for own amusement

Trump might think he could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot someone, and not lose any voters, but Republicans just lost an R+11 district at the same time that the economy is growing, unemployment is at a 17 year-low, and there are no major wars.

One thing I noticed in the developing liberal motivation we’ve seen is that the ACA repeal was a huge motivator. People who had never paid attention before found out the Republican Party was trying to kill them and were furious.

Schools that decided not to let their students protest aren’t looking great today. In central California, school officials at Mt. Diablo High School chained the front gate to prevent the kids from leaving, so the students broke through. Not a good look for the administration.

AFAIK, so far the numbers from all of these elections are showing that Republicans are showing up in the same or slightly higher numbers, but Democrats are coming out of the woodwork in record numbers.

As you were saying, I think that once previously non-political people realized what Trump is up to, they got mad.

According to Politics NC, this state has several Congressional districts that are more competitive than PA-18 (despite the outrageous gerrymandering). All are attracting candidates eager to run against Trump’s agenda.

@TenguPhule: But this year there is the orange fart cloud constantly tweeting stupid and saying racist things and doing terrible things against the country; that asswipe will not stop doing these things so the base will remain very motivated

@Cermet: And if one thing was true from the election, it was this: Dolt45’s base is not the majority in this country. And not even the majority in a lot of districts, as we’re finding out more and more.

I haven’t seen this reported officially, but a friend of mine — parent of a student at Dunwoody (GA) HS — posted to FB “that the principal tried to diminish the impact by forcing the kids behind the school. However, they walked to the front and rallied against violence there, in plain view.”

Good for the kids.

Separately, I learned that hundreds of students at Oak Park River Forest HS went outside and protested, in a peaceful and principled way. Good for them. They make me proud to be an OPRFHS graduate.

People who had never paid attention before found out the Republican Party was trying to kill them and were furious.

Republicans promised to repeal the ACA and replace it with something better. A catchy, easy to remember remedy.

And then they ran away from constituents, avoided Town Hall meetings, lied, did nothing. Meanwhile, a lot of people could not get reasonably priced insurance, access to doctors, etc. And in response, Republicans fucked up health care even more. A lot of people were paying attention and tried to be heard. And even those who were not paying attention got slapped in the face anyway. That’s quite a wake up call, even for those in denial.

@SiubhanDuinne: We had a pretty good-sized walkout at my school. I told my students I supported their cause, and that we wouldn’t be doing anything while they were gone. I think about 60% of the kids participated.

“The school administration embraced the students’ plan, helping facilitate the event. Several school and district leaders, Berkeley School Board members and Berkeley High teachers and staff came to the protest Wednesday, while designated teachers stayed behind with students who chose not to walk out of class.”

“I’m not here to tell you that the constant threat of being shot at school can destroy our ability to learn — because you know that,” yelled one student into the microphone. “Today we must move past our primitive ways. When leaders act like children and children act like leaders, you know change is coming,” he said.

Conor Lamb Wins Pennsylvania House Seat, Giving Democrats a Map for Trump Country

The map? Wait for it, wait for it…why it’s for Dems to bash Pelosi. Brilliant! Later in the article, it is mentioned that the Reps ran a virulently anti-Pelosi campaign and it didn’t work, but, the NYT never lets facts get in the way of a Dems in Disarray story.

No mention of health care as an issue. Very little mention of the fact that in a district Trump won by 20 points, the Rep ran as a Trump clone and lost, so, maybe we should ponder that a bit. N’uh-uh. What Dems need to do in red and purple districts is to bash Pelosi and it wouldn’t hurt to be pro gun nut. I mean it’s not as if there’s a big wave of anti-gun nuts sweeping the country. Or, that reasonable gun regulations are supported even by a majority of NRA members.

@Groucho48:
Then the other half of this song and dance routine is for a concern troll to argue that we should turn on Pelosi because she’s too “controversial and divisive”.
Of course, the entire rightwing strategy is to make whoever the Dem leader is into Mao and Hannibal Lector combined, no matter who it is.
It sounds self evidently stupid when you say it in blunt terms- “The opposition party hates our leader so we should dump her for someone they like.”

@Karen: they would be truly stupid to do a recount unless the gap goes down to under a hundred. It would just drag on a losing story for the GOP on an only good till November seat which is not going to make a difference for a Congressional vote. Waste of money and resources on top of everything else.